Brigade indulging in anti-BJP activities, says Yeddyurappa

State BJP president B S Yeddyurappa on Sunday said the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade will not be accepted by the party at any cost. Speaking to journalists before attending the two-day BJP state executive meeting which concluded here on Sunday, Yeddyurappa said, “Anti-party activities are being carried out in the name of Sangolli Rayanna Brigade and that will affect the party’s unity.”

A clear instruction has been given to the BJP workers associated with the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade in this regard during the state executive meeting on Saturday, he said without taking the name of senior party leader K S Eshwarappa, who is the force behind the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade.

Participating in the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade convention, which is being held elsewhere when the party’s executive meeting is on, in Kalaburagi will send a wrong message to the people of the state, he said. He was apparently referring to the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade convention that was organised at Afzalpur in the district on Sunday. “Hence, party workers have been strictly instructed not to participate in the convention. The party seniors are keeping tabs on all the developments and will take a decision in accordance with the circumstances,” he said.

Replying to a query, Yeddyurappa said a lot of people had expressed their discontent about the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade and its activities at the state executive meeting on Saturday. “They have also shared their opinion in this regard with the BJP national general secretary incharge of Karnataka, P Muralidhar Rao. In the coming days, the discontent among the party members will be addressed and there will be unity in the party,” he added.

 BJP state general secretary and MLA C T Ravi said the party seniors are observing all the activities of the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade. Any activity against the party was unacceptable and workers should be committed to the unity of the party and for the development of the state, he added. Later, addressing the state executive meeting, Yeddyurappa announced that next state executive meeting will be held in Mysuru on May 6 and 7. The party members from Mysuru district greeted the announcement with a thunderous applause.

Convention on Jan 26
The Sangolli Rayanna Brigade’s state-level convention will be held at Kudala Sangama in Bagalkot district on January 26. “There should not be any doubt in this regard,” said Eshwarappa. Speaking to journalists, he said the BJP seniors have been apprised of the purpose of the Brigade. “Internal differences of opinion in the party will be resolved in the coming days,” added Eshwarappa, who is Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council.